Making firends and adjusting to college life can be hard. Between classes and living in a dorm, you can sometimes feel trapped. Joining clubs is a great way to learn about campus, make new friends, and creatre your own identity on campus. However, before you commit to every single club that jumps out at you, take this advice.
1. It's exhausting!
I currently hold an executive position in one of the largest organizations on my campus and because of that, I am always tired. I never stop moving whether it’s because we’re hosting board meetings, body meetings, committee meetings, or special events. I stay up late at night to complete my work because my position takes up a lot of my time. Being a student is as much exhausting as it is rewarding. My advice to anyone looking to get involved, make sure you schedule some time to sleep and rest your body and mind.
2. Don't overwhelm yourself
I honestly wish that when I was coming into college someone had told me not to join too many clubs and organizations. I started off by signing up for like five things because that is what I thought jobs in the real world wanted to see. It’s not. They want to hear that you did something meaningful and made an impact. If you can do that in multiple positions, then great. But one great story will always mean more to an employer than twenty little ones.
3. The most important part of being a "Student Leader" is being a student
At every leadership training I have endured, the instructor has repeated this phrase: “You are a student first.” Yes, being a leader on campus is impressive and will take up a lot of your time, but your studies come first. There is one thing that we all have in common: we are here to learn because a university is a school first and foremost. No matter what never let your involvement cause your studies to struggle.
4. Giving back is the best gift
If you’re anything like me then you live in a college town. One thing I have learned while being at my university is to give back. I am a Southern Owl first, but I am also a member of the greater New Haven community. Our school hosts something called the “Big Event” every year where SCSU students go off into the community to clean up the streets, play with sheltered animals, work with children, and overall help the city.
You don’t have to wait for an event like that one though to give back. My peers and I coordinated and hosted a banquet for volunteer firemen from one of the surrounding towns. It took two weeks to plan and was a great way to say thank you. Whatever your passion is run with it and don’t forget to give back to your community.
5. Keep a planner
If you’re going to be involved on your college campus, keeping organized is your top priority. My suggestion is to go to Target and get their planner that is about $12 or $13 and write in everything. Also, once you know your weekly schedule, make a master one and paste it into your planner. Make sure that you include your classes, meeting times, studying, a hobby, and rest.
6. Make time for yourself
Which brings me to my next point, you need to make time to breathe. Learn how to say no to several things, and I know that for a student leader that is the hardest task to master. No one has a right to tell you that you can’t miss an event or leave early from something if you need to. You’re not helping anyone if you burn yourself out.
7. Take up a hobby
Hobbies are great tools for relaxing. You may have one already, you may not have any. But try to find one. I write to clear my head, my best friend sings, my other one runs. If you’re anything like me I can’t sit still. Writing allows me to clear my head. Being an Odyssey writer, it also ensures that I’m being productive and am not just wasting time by typing on my laptop. However, it is my time to put what is bothering me on to the page.
8. It's not the final product, but how you get there
Whether you’re working by yourself or in a group, if you’re serving on an executive board for a club or organization then communication is key. Don’t procrastinate either, be productive. Try and get it done sooner rather than later. I promise that you’ll feel better about your work if you do.
9. There's a HUGE learning curve
At first nothing is going to work and you’re going to try everything. That doesn’t mean that it’ll never work out though. You’re going to start by trying to please everyone. I’ll tell you now that you’re never going to. Y
ou’re going to have some issues and you’re going to fail. That’s okay though. I have planned so many programs that I swore were going to be hits, and they flopped. You will never know the outcome of an event before it happens. It’s okay to fail because failure teaches you what to do next time.
10. Getting involved is the best decision you can make
Working for the Residence Hall Association is a blessing in disguise. I have made a lot of great friends, planned great events, and have had a lot of fun doing it. I cannot wait to continue my work with them this year!
